Cumberland County NC

Biographical Sketch of Charles Waddell Chestnutt

Chestnutt, Charles Waddell; lawyer and author; born, Cleveland, June 20, 1858; son of Andrew J. and Maria Chestnutt; educated, public schools Cleveland and Fayetteville, N. C.; began teaching at the age of 16 years and for 9 years taught in the schools of Fayetteville, N. C.; at the age of 23, became principal of State Normal School, at Fayetteville; in 1884, spent a number of months in newspaper writing in New York City; began business life in Cleveland as a shorthand reporter; employed as such in the Cleveland Courts; studied law with the late Samuel E. Williamson; admitted to the … Read more

Philip T. Fry

Capt., Co. H, 119th Reg., 30th Div.; son of W. A. and Mrs. Flora N. Fry, of Fayetteville, Cumberland County. Entered the service June, 1916, and served on the Mexican border. Promoted to 1st Lt. Aug., 1917, then to Captain. Went overseas in 1917. Fought in all engagements. Was cited for bravery and very efficient service when the 119th broke the Hindenburg Line. Volunteered for continued service and was transferred to the Regular Army. Served with Army of Occupation in Germany as Capt. of Co. K, 38th Inf., 3rd Div. Holds Military Cross from the British and decorations from the … Read more

Joseph S. Huske

Major, F. Artly., Unassigned; of Cumberland County; son of B. R. and Hannah O. Huske. Husband of Mary Cook Huske. Entered service May 8, 1917, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to Ft. Oglethorpe. Transferred to Ft. Bliss, from there to Camp Jackson. Promoted to rank as Capt. Aug. 5, 1918. Major Oct. 23, 1918, to Ft. Oglethorpe Officers’ Training Camp. Discharged and re-entered 2nd Camp, coming out as 1st Lt. Assigned 82nd, F. Artly., 15th Cavalry Div. Promoted to Capt. and transferred to Camp Jackson. Then to 2nd Brig. F. A. R. D., then to command of 5th Regt. F. A. … Read more

Thomas W. Rankin

2nd Lt. F. A., Btry. C, 81st Div., 317th Regt.; of Cumberland County; son of A. E. and Zula Rankin. Entered service April 6, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson, S. C. Transferred to Camp Taylor, Ky., then to Camp Jackson. Promoted to rank of 2nd Lt. Aug. 31, 1918. Transferred to Ft. Sill, Okla., Oct. 8, 1918, School of Artillery. Mustered out at Ft. Sill, Okla., Dec. 13, 1918.

Stacy Edward Harris

Med. Replacement No. 25. Born in Cumberland County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Harris. Husband of Mary Elizabeth Harris. Entered service June 5, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Was sent to Camp Wadsworth, S. C., from there to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France July 9, 1918. Returned to USA Aug. 1, 1919. Was mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., Aug. 5, 1919.

Robert G. Haigh

Private, F. Artly., Btry. A, 81st Div., 317th Regt.; of Cumberland County; son of R. G. and Marion Taylor Haigh. Entered service March 3, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson. Transferred to Camp Mills. Sailed for France July, 1918. Returned to USA June 18, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., June, 1919.

Slave Narrative of John C. Bectom

Interviewer: T. Pat Matthews Person Interviewed: John C. Bectom Location: North Carolina Date of Birth: Oct. 7, 1862 My name is John C. Bectom. I was born Oct. 7, 1862, near Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina. My father’s name was Simon Bectom. He was 86 years of age when he died. He died in 1910 at Fayetteville, N. C. My mother’s name was Harriet Bectom. She died in 1907, May 23, when she was seventy years old. My brother’s were named Ed, Kato and Willie. I was third of the boys. My sisters were Lucy, Anne and Alice. My father … Read more

Henry Elliot Williams

Capt., Q. M. C. Casualty. Born in Cumberland County; the son of W. L. Williams and Mrs. Mary Eliza Elliot Williams. Husband of Mrs. Minnie P. Williams. Entered service July 9, 1917, at Charleston, S. C. Sent to Hdqrs., S. E. D., Charleston, S. C., July 9, 1917. Overseas to France Dec. 5, 1917. At Charleston Hdqrs. had charge of leasing camp sites and supply water and electricity to camps in S. E. D. To Dijon as Q. M., to St. Nazaire as Ex. Officer Q. M., Depot No. 1. Was sent to the front as Regulating Officer; to Coblenz … Read more

Joseph T. Maloney

2nd Lt., Att. Transport Service; of Cumberland County; son of Jno. J. and Marie E. Maloney. Entered service Sept. 20, 1917, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to Charleston, S. C. Transferred to Camp Johnston, Fla., then to Montreal, Can. Sailed on British transport Haverford Aug. 30, 1918. Promoted to rank of Sergt. October, 1917; 2nd Lt. August, 1918. Two trips on the Haverford with American troops, from Canada to British Isles. Two trips U. S. N. T. Pasadena, returning troops from France. Mustered out at Hoboken May 20, 1919.

Vetter M. Harrelson

Private Artly. Born in Cumberland County; son of Mr. and Mrs. N. M. Harrelson. Husband of Mrs. Mary Harrelson. Entered service Aug. 26, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Was sent to Camp Jackson, S. C., from there to Camp Stuart, Va. Sailed for France Oct. 28, 1918. Landed in USA June 5, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., June 21, 1919.

B. O. Overby

Coxswain, U. S. Navy. Born in Cumberland County July 27, 1900; son of F. H. and S. E. Overby. Husband of Mrs. Eula Overby. Entered the service at Fayetteville, N.C., March 24, 1917, and sent to St. Helena, Va. Transferred to New York and from there to Brooklyn, N. Y. Promoted Coxswain August, 1917. On the U. S. transport Mallory from June 10, 1917, to February, 1918; U. S. S. Panaman four months; to Receiving ship in Brooklyn, N. Y., to Naval Hospital; U. S. S. Scranton March to July and then to Receiving Ship at Hampton Roads, Va. Mustered … Read more

Slave Narrative of Sarah Louise Augustus

Interviewer: T. Pat Matthews Person Interviewed: Sarah Louise Augustus Location: 1424 Lane Street, Raleigh, North Carolina Age: 80 Age 80 years 1424 Lane Street Raleigh, North Carolina I wus born on a plantation near Fayetteville, N. C., and I belonged to J. B. Smith. His wife wus named Henrietta. He owned about thirty slaves. When a slave was no good he wus put on the auction block in Fayetteville and sold. My father wus named Romeo Harden and my mother wus named Alice Smith. The little cabin where I wus born is still standing. There wus seven children in marster’s … Read more

Ancil W. Melvin

Corpl., 306th Am. Tr., Co. D, 81st Div.; of Cumberland County; son of A. Shep and Sarah Melvin. Entered service April 25, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson. Transferred to Camp Mills. Sailed for France Sept. 17, 1918. Fought at Meuse-Argonne, Vosges Mtns. Returned to USA June 23, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson June 26, 1919.

W. H. Graham

Private, Med. Corps, Co 321st Ambulance, 81st Div., 306th Sanitary Train; of Cumberland County; son of R. E. and Mrs. Ira Bella Graham. Husband of Mrs. Mary Lou Darden Graham. Entered service June 26, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson; transferred to Camp Sevier, S. C., to Camp Mills, N. Y. Sailed for Chesebrough, France, Aug. 20, 1918. Fought at Meuse-Argonne. Arrived in USA from Marseilles, France, June 17, 1919, at New York. Mustered out at Camp Mills, N. Y., June 24, 1919.

Junius G. Campbell

Private, Inf., Co. A, 323rd Reg., 81st Div. Born in Cumberland County, N.C., June 1, 1891, and son of D. B. and Mary Campbell. Husband of Gertrude Brantley Campbell. Entered the service at Carthage, N.C., May 28, 1918, and sent to Camp Jackson, S. C., and then transferred to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France Aug. 11, 1918. Fought at Meuse-Argonne and Vosges Mountains. Mustered out of the service at Camp Lee, Va., May 25, 1919.

Daniel B. Byrd

Capt., Inf., Co. D, 3rd Div., 38th Reg. and 19th Co. of 30th Div.; of Cumberland County; son of George J. and Mrs. Mary Byrd. Husband of Mrs. Florence Cozort Byrd. Entered service July 5, 1916 at Ft. Monroe, Va. Sent to Mineola, N. Y. Transferred to Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Tex., then to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for England to France May 27, 1918. Entered service as Lt. July 5, 1916. Promoted to Capt. April 11, 1919. Fought in all battles of 30th Div. Wounded in the battle of Somme, LeCatau Sector, Oct. 11, 1918, by shrapnel. Sent … Read more

J. L. Maloney

Private, Radio Service; of Cumberland County; son of J. J. and Marie Maloney. Entered service May 15, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to A. & E. College, N.C. Transferred to Ft. Sill, Okla. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., Feb. 7, 1919.

Norwood W. Tillinghast

1st Class Private, F. A., 81st Div., Brigade Hdqrs. Det. Born in Cumberland County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Tillinghast. Entered the service April 4, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Was sent to Camp Jackson, S. C. Sailed for France Aug. 29, 1918. Accidentally hurt Nov. 13, 1918. Sent to hospital at Chaumont, France. Returned to USA March 3, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., April 24, 1919.

William S. Fitts

Private, 1st Class, Engineer, Co. A, 138th Regt.; of Cumberland County; son of T. L. and Sallie Fitts. Entered service Aug. 9, 1918, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to Camp Wadsworth, S. C. Transferred to Ft. Benj. Harrison, Ind. Mustered out at Ft. Benj. Harrison, Ind., Dec. 3, 1919.

Harry A. Johnson

2nd Lt., Co. M, 29th Div., 113th Inf. Born in Cumberland County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Johnson. Entered service June 19, 1916, at Fayetteville, N.C. Was sent to Camp Glenn, N.C. Sent to Bridge Guard, Asheville, N.C. Transferred to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France May 11, 1918. Fought at Meuse-Argonne Front. Promoted to 2nd Lt. Sept. 25, 1918. Was with Co. F, 119th Inf., 30th Div., until July 23, 1918. Served on the Mexican border six months. Returned to USA May 17, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., May 24, 1919.